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On November 9, Skinner was scheduled to be executed. On September 1, Texas law SB 122 took effect. It's to ensure procedural barriers don't prevent prisoners from testing all relevant biological evidence, including what previously wasn't examined.
Skinner's life depended on whether Gray County district court upheld the law or, with time running out, whether further appeals for justice so far denied were possible.
On November 7, the court temporarily suspended his execution. Rob Owen, one of Skinner's attorneys said:
"We are confident that upon careful review, the court will conclude that DNA testing is necessary. The stakes are too high to allow Mr. Skinner to be executed before he has a fair chance to make his case that the trial court made a grave mistake in denying his request for DNA testing."
Thousands of petition signatures support him. Owen hopes Governor Perry will "take the time necessary to be scientifically certain of Mr. Skinner guilt before permitting him to be executed."
Despite his horrendous record in office and cavalier attitude, Skinner hopes he'll be the exception in a state accounting for half of all executions in America.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at Email address removed.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/ .
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